DISINFO: Europe attacks Russia in "vaccines' war"
SUMMARY
Russia is following the traditional way to produce its anti-COVID vaccines, initially Sputnik V and now the EpiVacCorona, while Western pharmaceuticals are using a new, genetic type methodology which influences and changes human RNA. This justifies why Russian vaccines do not cause any side effects. However, bureaucrats and officials from European countries and the EU are trying to discredit the Russian vaccines, saying that there are attempts by the Russian mafia to steal the secrets of Western vaccines and even laying the ground for sanctions against Russia.
RESPONSE
This is a mix of several recurrent pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives about alleged anti-Russian bias in the West and plots against Russia’s greatness.
There is credible evidence that the Russian government pressed Russian scientists and researchers to be the first to find a vaccine against COVID-19, and did everything at hand to shorten the process, raising concerns about the safety and efficiency of the Sputnik V vaccine.
The claim on EU officials are trying to discredit the Sputnik V vaccine is unfounded and presented without evidence.
Reservations and criticism of the Russian Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine are caused by the fact that Russia didn’t complete large trials to test the vaccine’s safety and efficacy before releasing it. Rolling out an inadequately vetted vaccine could endanger people who receive it. In fact, there is evidence that Russia has at all times perceived the development of a coronavirus vaccine mainly in terms of geopolitical and economic gain.
The same disinformation campaign includes statements such as "Western attacks on the Russian coronavirus vaccine are a corporate cold war against humanity" or "Russian progress in COVID-19 vaccine has become for the West an outrageous challenge".